To all whom it may concern



@nimh gieten @stent @ffice LABEL-HOLDER FOR RAILROAD GARS.

dige tigthnlt nicht iuiittlgtst tttters ittent ma uniting niet nt tige 5min.

T() ALL WIIOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JOHN II. PARSONS, of Quincy, in the count-y of Branch, and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Mode of Showing the Contents and Destination of Railroad Cars, in the form oi a Label-Rack,which is fastened in plain view on the ear; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying dra-wings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of myinvention consists in providing a small iron or metal rack, with a lid hinged to the upper side ofthe rack. In the rackV is placed a card orvlabel, showing a full memorandum ofthe car, necessary to be seen by those having the car in charge while running from one point to another.

'.lo'enable others skilled in the art to make and use' my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Figure 2 represents the label-rachas seen on the side of the car. l B is a rack, in which the label-card is held by means of 4flat springs, hereinafter more fully described. A

l is a lid or cover, hinged to the rack B at the top. In the lid is an opening, as shown at C, through which may be seen a part ofthe label, showing, without; opening the lid, the destination ofthe ear, as, for instance, Toledo to Chicago, showing that the car was consigned from Toledo to Chicago.' Reference is made to Figure 3, which shows the detached label. But by opening the lid bythe tip cl,g. 2, the whole of the label may be seen,.npon

lwhich is writ-ten any desired memorandum in regard to the contents of the car, as dates, consiglior and conf signee of the goods, whether they be perishable or time' goods; and, in case the car bc delayed on the road, it may be noted onthis label, the place and cause, thus keeping a memorandum with the car; and, in case the way-hills'are lost, as is often the case, no damage may occur by a delay of the car, or any other reason, as a glance at the label shows at once 'a full memorandum, and agents or conductors may govern themselves accordingly. It is practised to some extent, by Vsome roads, to tack a card'on the car for the above-purpose; but this card often gets destroyed or washedoif by the rain; and to obviate this, and to furnish a permanent rack to hold the label, isthe object of my invention. y

To more fully explain its construction and operation, reference'is made to iig. 1. I construct the rack B und lid A of malleable cast iron, brass, or other metal, of suiiicicnt thickness, and of any desired size, in the shape and form as represented. The rack B is made with a c ap or front projection, E, at the top, to protect the whole from rain. The corners y y arealso made projecting in the form of a. quarter circle, in connection with thecap E, to serve as ears, to which the lid A is hinged. The inside edges of the rack B are disked, er made like the casing of a door, shown at a a a a. The surface of the cross-Slat k is made level with the edges a a aua; or the Slat k maybe made to till the entire space inside the rack by making it wider. Two small thin strips of steel or spring brass are riveted to the lowcr'sidc of the rack at p p, which placeis also dsked out enough that the top of the springs s s or surface is level with the surface ofthe rack B. These slips or springs are to hold the label in the rack, the upper ends of said springs s s being turned out a little in order that the lnb'el may be more readily slipped in behind them. Inthe-lid C is the opening for the purpose heretofore stated. From the top, or alittle above the opening, the surface of thelid is nearly flat or level, upon which may be made the letters standing for the road to which it belongs, as M. S. N. I., (Michigan Southern Northern Indiana.) The upperside of the lid is formed something in the shape of ahalf circle to cover the rod h. On the ends are made ears, sirnilar to those at yy, into which they tit, (inside.) The inside of the lid, from the top to bottom, is o-n a level line, the curve spoken of being on the front' side.' The lid A is hinged to the rack B by the rod L, which passes through the ears on the lid and rack, and is headed over at the ends, one end being seen at e. In o rder to keep this lid closed, I form a coil-wire spring, me, around the rod lz, one end of which is fastened to the rack B, through the hole o, bending the end over on the back side. The other end is fastened to the lid A, through the hole w, bending .the end over on the front side, as seen at w, fig. 2. By raising the lid it coils the spring m e, and thus the lid is always kept closed, protecting, the labelfrom being destroyed or lost. The rack B is fastened'to the side of the car. by the screws a: as.

The labels may be made t-o suit the wants of different roads, in blank form, similar to the one shown in fig. 3. Thereforev I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A The arrangement of the label-rack B, lid A, with the coil spring m z, substantially as andfor the purpose described and sot forth.

JOHN H. PARSONS.v

Witnesses:

M. M. BROWN, W. H. WILSON. 

